Pursuit

Niue (new-ay) is an amazing little island. It may be the world's smallest nation but has lots of incredible scenery and things to do. Captain James Cook tried to land here in 1774, but left after trying three times. He subsequently named the island Savage Island, but the islanders insist that the unfriendly reception was simply a robust traditional "challenge", but the name "Savage Island" scared off visitors for many years afterwards. Today, the islanders are anything but savage. They are some of the most hospitable and friendly people we have met in a long time. It reminded me a lot of Pitcairn Island, except that it wasn't quite as high and dramatic, but the people were great and the island was incredibly rugged and isolated like Pitcairn Island. The island is one of the world's largest raised coral atolls, or makatea. There are few beaches and the coastline is loaded with amazing caves, chasms and ravines. We rented a car for two days and checked out a lot of the sights around the island. Some of the small reef pools were so clear and the swimming was great. When swimming in the reef pools, the water would all of a sudden get really blurry and cold. It was where the fresh water was flowing into the sea and mixing with the warmer seawater. The underwater visibility was fantastic and some of the best we have experienced so far. Around the island they have what are called FADs (Fish Aggregate Devices) and these devices attract fish so that the local fishermen can quickly catch their fill. The cruisers like them too. On the way in and out we tried to sail around the area and catch a fish, but again, no luck. It seemed like cheating and maybe cheaters never prosper? I had just bought a new lure, so I am blaming on that or maybe I just still suck at fishing? Should have stuck with the old faithful lure. We still have fish in the freezer from before, so it wasn't a big deal. Besides, one of the local restaurants has fish and chips on Fridays, so I got my fill of tasty Niuean fish anyway.

On the island there is the Niue Yacht Club. Even though not one of the islanders has a sailboat, but it is a great little yacht club to join for fun. The cruisers all get together there for drinks, book swaps and barbeques as well as a good time. We are a little late in the season now and are playing catch up with all the other boats that are hanging around Tonga waiting for their window in the beginning of November to head down to New Zealand. Because Niue doesn't really offer any good spots to land a dinghy, they have installed a small crane to lift the dinghies in and out of the water onto the pier. It was pretty funny. You pull up, grab the hook and then use the crane to lift the dinghy out and place it on a little trolley. With that you just wheel it over to a "parking spot" and just slide it off. What a laugh. On Wednesday, we dropped in to a local little hang out called Sails. Everyone on the island gets together there to have drinks and a good time. Best one liner wins a bottle of wine. Our friend James on Snow Leopard won. It is also the home of the world's hardest hole in one too. The hole is across a huge ravine to a little tiny green. It is an impossible shot and the owners said that no one has ever been close. He has tried many times and has only put it on the green twice. I gave it a go. Three bucks a ball, so I took a couple of shots...no even close, what the hell! I golf like I fish.